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John Brown's Body

In stirring cadences, the story of anti-slavery zealot
John Brown's death is told: "John Brown's body lies a-mould'ring in
his grave (x3); his soul goes marching on." "He captured Harper's Ferry
with his nineteen men so true...."
The well-known tune of this piece, "Say, Brothers, Will You Meet
Us," is often credited to William Steffe, but I know of no absolute
proof of this. The "John Brown" words were composed within months of
his death, and had spread throughout the Union by the early stages of
the Civil War.
I have seen it argued that the "John Brown" of the song was not the
abolitionist but an obscure American soldier. I suppose this is possible
-- but everyone interpreted it to mean the fanatic who captured Harper's
Ferry. - RBW

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored,
He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on.
cho: Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps
l can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps
His day is marching on.
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnish`d rows of steel,
"As ye deal with my contemners, So with you my grace shall deal;"
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel
Since God is marching on.

He has sounded form the trumpet that shall never call retreat
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
He has sounded form the trumpet that shall never call retreat
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
ln the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

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